Debate Over Homeschooling
The Debate Over Homeschooling
Lynn Waite
Grantham University
Abstract
Homeschooling is defined as learning outside of the public or private school environment. Homeschooling can be looked at from both the advantages and disadvantages. Those who are in favor of it list the advantages of homeschooling to be the freedom to incorporate religious teachings to their children, one-on-one attention between student and parent, the strengthening of the family relationship, and the socialization with a variety of people rather than just the kids of their own age. Arguments on each of those topics are also made by those who are against homeschooling.
The Debate Over Homeschooling
Many parents have often pondered about which type of educational setting would be better for their children. The most common way for children to receive their basic K-12 education is by attending a public school. However, there is one very different option: homeschooling. The advantages of homeschooling are starting to be questioned by more and more parents each year, evident by the growing number of children being homeschooled. In 2007, the number of homeschooled students was about 1.5 million, an increase from 850,000 in 1999 and 1.1 million in 2003 (National Center for Education Statistics. 2009) . Of course, there are disadvantages to just about anything; homeschooling is no different. Those who argue in favor of homeschooling have many reasons that it is the appropriate choice. Religious reasons, one-on-one attention, strengthening family relationships, and socialization with a variety of people being some of the most talked about. For every one of those reasons of approval, one could also argue that those too are disadvantages of homeschooling. Homeschooling, while it has many benefits, is not ideal for school aged children because they do not get the various kinds of social interaction and socialization that public and private schooling offers.
Religion is an important factor when
Lynn Waite
Grantham University
Abstract
Homeschooling is defined as learning outside of the public or private school environment. Homeschooling can be looked at from both the advantages and disadvantages. Those who are in favor of it list the advantages of homeschooling to be the freedom to incorporate religious teachings to their children, one-on-one attention between student and parent, the strengthening of the family relationship, and the socialization with a variety of people rather than just the kids of their own age. Arguments on each of those topics are also made by those who are against homeschooling.
The Debate Over Homeschooling
Many parents have often pondered about which type of educational setting would be better for their children. The most common way for children to receive their basic K-12 education is by attending a public school. However, there is one very different option: homeschooling. The advantages of homeschooling are starting to be questioned by more and more parents each year, evident by the growing number of children being homeschooled. In 2007, the number of homeschooled students was about 1.5 million, an increase from 850,000 in 1999 and 1.1 million in 2003 (National Center for Education Statistics. 2009) . Of course, there are disadvantages to just about anything; homeschooling is no different. Those who argue in favor of homeschooling have many reasons that it is the appropriate choice. Religious reasons, one-on-one attention, strengthening family relationships, and socialization with a variety of people being some of the most talked about. For every one of those reasons of approval, one could also argue that those too are disadvantages of homeschooling. Homeschooling, while it has many benefits, is not ideal for school aged children because they do not get the various kinds of social interaction and socialization that public and private schooling offers.
Religion is an important factor when
References: All About Parenting. (2013). Advantages of Homeschooling. Retrieved from http://www.allaboutparenting.org At Home in America. (2003, March). A free newspaper and blog for the home school community. Retrieved from http://www.athomeinamerica.com Basham, P. (2001, October 1). Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream. Fraser Institute. Retrieved from http://www.fraserinstitute.org Moms Who Think. (2011). Advantages of Homeschooling. Retrieved from http://www.momswhothink.com/homeschool National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2009). Home Page, a part of the U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www.nces.ed.gov USA Today College. (2012, February). Do Homeschoolers Do Better in College Than Traditional Students. Retrieved from http://www.usatodayeducate.com